Kuala Lumpur: Qatar giants and 2011 champions Al Sadd will take on Saudi Arabia Pro League runners-up and Asian Champions League (ACL) regulars Al Hilal in the two-leg quarter-finals as the much anticipated AFC Champions League 2014 knockout stage draw was held at the AFC House here yesterday
The Qatari side progressed through to the quarter-finals after a dramatic away goal win over Iran’s Foolad Khouzeshtan in the Round of 16.
In contrast, Al Hilal, who appointed experienced Romanian coach Laurentiu Reghecampf early this week, were the comfortable winners over Uzbek giants Bunyodkor in the previous round.
In the other West Zone match, free scoring Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates will renew their rivalry against two-time ACL winners Al Ittihad who had defeated the Emiratis in the final of the 2005 edition of the competition.
The 2003 winners Al Ain, who also recently won UAE President’s Cup, had qualified for the quarter-finals after outwitting Walter Zenga’s fellow Emirate side Al Jazira as they recorded wins in both the legs of the Round of 16 matches against the Abu Dhabi-based club.
The first-leg of the quarter-finals will be held on August 19 and 20 and a week later the second legs will take place.
The qualified side from the East Zone will host the first leg of the two-leg finals and in the second leg they will have to travel to the West Zone on November 1.
Meanwhile, defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande will face Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Chinese giants will travel to Australia for the first leg to face the competition debutants and only the second Australian club managing to reach the last eight stage of the competition.
The Chinese treble winners will be making their third consecutive appearances in the quarter-finals after making their debut in 2012.
Both Guangzhou Evergrande and Western Sydney Wanders saw off Japanese sides in the Round of 16 ties. Billed as one of the exciting fixtures, current K League Classic leaders Pohang Steelers are braced for another all-Korean clash as they lock horn against 2013 finalists FC Seoul in the other quarter-finals from the East Zone.
Pohang put aside the challenges of fellow Korean Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with a 3-1 aggregate win to be amongst the elites of Asian football for this year.
Meanwhile, captain Zheng Zhi has said Guangzhou Evergrande will not be laid back in their preparations to face debutants Western Sydney Wanderers in their quarter-final match this August.
The reigning AFC Player of the Year assisted AFC Deputy General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John conduct the 2014 ACL Knock-out Stage draw at AFC House yesterday.
“This year’s competition is much more competitive than that of last year and I think all the eight quarterfinalists are quite close to each other,” the 33-year-old told The-AFC.com.
“And Western Sydney Wanderers are also a very competitive side. Although they are a younger team in the ACL, we will not relax and we will still make full preparations for our quarterfinal tie.”
Japan’s playmaker Shinji Ono returned home after his final game with Sydney Wanderers where he helped scramble the Australian club into the ACL quarterfinals on away goals against Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima. But again, this does not mean the Chinese treble winners can rest on their laurel, according to Zheng Zhi.
“Yes, Shinji Ono has returned to Japan but it does not mean our match will be easy,” he said. Agencies
